Apparatus for mixing materials with fluids.



`E. G. Loomis. APPARATUS FOR MIXINGI MATERIALS WITH FLUIDS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. isi'.

1,324,774. l Patented Dea. 9,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. E. G; IooI/IIS.

APPARATUS Foa' MIXING MATERIALS WITH FLuIDs.

APPLICATION FILED Dec. I2, IsIe. Lj, Patented Dec. 9,1919. A l I 4sIIEETs-SIIEI 2.

v r I Ma/ E. G. LOOIVIIS. APPARATUS 50H MlxrNG MATERIALS wnH mums.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. l2, 1916.

1,324,774" late'uedDea 9,1919.

4 slzEETssHem 3.

y fE. G. LOOMIS.. APPARATUS FOR MIXING MATERIALS WITH FLUIDS.

- APPLICATloN HLED Dec.1 2,19'|s.

1,324,774, Patem Dec. 9., w19.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

graven/fo@ muren srarnspnann'r onirica.

EVARTS G. LOOMIS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, SSIGNOR TO THE ARLIGTONCOMPANY, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING- MATERIALS WITH FLUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 9, 1919.

Application filed December 12, 1916. lSerial No. 136,412.

' vention to the mixing of nitrocellulose with water, for the purposeof-suspending the fibers of the .nitrocellulose in the water, so

4that ,it can be transported through pipes.

It has been diiiicult heretofore to convey certain kinds ofnitrocellulose through pipes, even when mixed with water by thebestknown means, as the mixture frequently clogs in tlie pipes owing toimperfect mixing.

,iReferring to the illustrated application of my invention, it is wellknown that nitrocellulose is made by treating cellulose in an acidsbath. `When the chemical reaction is completed, it is necessary toremove the excess acids from the resulting iiitrocellulose. The generalpractice is to remove as much of the acids as possible by afluidextracting apparatus and then remove the remainder of the acids' bywashing. The common practice is to dump the nitrocellulose vfrom thetluid-extrz'icting apparatus` into a washing' tank. As the addition ofsmall quantities of water to the acid-wet nitrocellulose will cause thenitrocellulose' to decompose, particularly in any lumps in the mass, itis necessary to break up the lumps and mix all the fibers of thenitrocellulose with water as quickly as possible.

. This is done ordinarily by workmen, who

break up thelumps and mix the nitrocellulose with the water by the useof ordinary hand forks. This operation is called drowning. The fumesgiven olf by this operation are so intense that it is difficult toperform the work proper y-o'r obtain workmen willing'to perform thisoperatiom Thexfeatures of invention, therefore, which enter intocombination with the mixing apparatus, are adapted to prevent theescapeof 'acid fumes, to feed the nitrocel- ,liilseithe requiredquantities and condition to the mixing device, to mix Athenitrocellulose thoroughly with the water as quickly as possible(drowning) to preventdecomposition, and to convey the nitrocellulose tothe washing device. The apparatus described herein and chosen toillustrate 6o i the invention,therefore, may be described as a combineddrowning, mixing, and convcying apparatus.

The object of my invention as applied to the present embodimentthereoffis to convey the nitrocellulose directly from theHuid-extracting apparatus to the Washing apparatus without manualhandling and in such a manner as to' prevent the nitrocellulose fromdecomposing and from diffusing the acid fumes. Other objects of myinvention will be apparent 'from the following description, in

' whichf Fwure 1 is a side elevation of a Acombined 7E drowning, mixing,and conveying apparatus with a fluid-extracting apparatus and washing'machine shown diagrammatically in connection therewith;

Fig. 2 a side elevation.

tus with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking 1n thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 4 a vertical View of the mixing dc- 85 vice;

Fig. 5 a plan of the bladed screw of the mixing device; and Fig. 6 aperspective of a conveyer bar.

Similar reference characters refer to similar pants. throughout thedrawings.

In the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention and referring.toFig. l, reference characters E represent fluid-extracting apparatus `ofany desired type, such, for. ex-

the bottoms of the fluid-extracting appara- Vt'us may be removed in anydesired manner as by raising, so that the nitrocellulose may be pushedfrom the sides of the centrifugals directly to the combined drowning andmixing apparatus. A washingr apparatus, such,A

for example, as a washing machine of any desired type is illustrateddiagrammatically at the scale being reduced owing to the y ofthecombined 80 drowning, mixing, and conveying apparalimits of the drawing.The centrifugal machines E and washing machine W may be located at anydesired place with reference to the combined drowning and mixing,iapparatus, the present drawings 'showing a convenient arrangement forpurposes of illustration.

ln the combined drowning and mixing apparatus, ythe nitrocellulose firstis received from the .fluid-extracting apparatus in clam shells l, ofwhich two are illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention.These clam .shells when closed forni a chute closed at the top thereby)reventing the escape ot' fumes. Each clamsliellvopens into a chute 2,which leads to a. feeding device or' any desired type. The sides ot theclam shell when closed preferably form part of or a continuation of thewalls of the chute, and the walls of the chute preferably increase inhorizontal cross-section from top to bottom.

In the present embodiment, a feeding device of any desired type isprovided at the bottom of each chute, which is shown herein asa seriesof bars B, preferably triangular in shape. T hese bars may be rotated inunison by a chain 5 driven from any desired source of power and engagingsprocket wheels et on the bars. These bars 3 are so designed that anypredetermined distance may be maintained between them at all timesduring rotation, and in practice the design is such that very little, itany, of the nitrocellulose ialls between the hars. the feeding device isadapted to move forward only u. comparatively small amount ofnitrocellulose even though the entire chute.

be filled with nitrocellulose, the feeding device moving thenitrocellulose at the bottom of the mass adjacent the device, the massgradually settling until it all has been fed.

rl`he speed of operation of the feeding device' is adjusted to feed justthe proper amount to be handled eiectivclj,` by the mixing device.Adjacent the end of each feeding device is u. lump-breaking device ofany desired type, which, in the present embodiment, takes the form of atoothed wheel 6 adapted tov take the nitrocellulose from the feedingIdevice and force it through a vertical rake thereby breaking any lumpsin the nitrocellulose. To avoid breakage, the rake 7 is hung loosely,its Weight 'affording suliicient resistance to break any lumps whichordinarily occur.

' From both lump-breaking devices, the nitrocellulose drops through apassage 8 to the mixing device, where the nitrocellulose is mixedthoroughly with water, drowned, and impelled or forced through la pipe11 to washing machine lV. This thorough mixing together ot the water andnitrocellulose (which is heavier than water) suspends the libere oi. thenitrocellulose in the water so that the mixture flows freely tl'lroug'hthe conveyingl pipe or pipes without clogging.

yeraloly is provided with a tra lt will be noted thatQ This alsoetlectually drowns the nitrocellulose so that there is no danger of itsde4 composing. The water preferablyrezwhes the bladcd screw 9 of themixing device from a passage ls beneath the conveyer, and is 10supplied. by a pipe 12 (which may be perfo' rated it' desired) at theupper end ofthe passage, so that any particles ot' nitrocellulose. whichmight fall through the bars are washed to the mixing device. i

The mixing` device in the present embodiment takes the torni ofa screw9, the blades or' which are pitched at such an angle as to forceuthenitrocellulose down against the sides ot the howl l() in which it ismounted, 30' which action -chnrns the nitrocellulose and water togetherso that a .perfect mixture is obtained characterized by the suspensionof the individual' fibers in the water. The mixture y is dischargedthrough a pipe 11 preferably g5 leading from near the bottom of the bowlA10 which pipe also preferably is plated taugen?.` tally to said screw9, When the pipe is lofi., cated near the bottom of the bowl' it pre youtside the 965 bowl as shown in Fig. l, so t at the luidflevel withinthe Abowl is maintained at de?. sired height' and the I i corrosive,acid .fmesprevented from escaping 'into the pipe and-1 2@ subsequentapparatus. It is obvious that ythe 93 mixing and propelling may beperforn'ied. by V separate devices of similar or of. different-'f types,such, f or eXam'p-le asgtwo separata'. screws or paddles or byva )et orjets of liquid. or gas properly placed and arranged. g

'lhe entire appfratus is inclosed in a casu ing which prevents theescape of acid fumes )1 except through a flue 14 adapted forfthat`f'purpose. -v y Y r'llthough I have illustrated my invention '105 by oneembodiment thereof, it is not. tobe limited to such embodiment, which ischosen only for purposes of illustration, my in venu tion consisting ofan apparatus for conveying nitrocellulose apparatus to a washing machinewithout danger of the nitrocellulose decomposing or likelihood ot tlieconveying pipes clogging, the nitrocellulose being fed to the mixing de?vice in required Vquantities andy conditiomfug, drowned and suspended inwater, and oreedfi-'- o`r impe-lied through a pipe. Having describedone' embodiment ofiny: invention, what claim and desire to secureA byLetters Patent is: u '12b 1. ln an apparatus for treating nitroeel-4lulose, the combination oi. means'ft'or salmi?? ing said material andwater as' to--sipend the material therein and impart to the said mixturevelocity, and a conduit arranged las tangcntially to said means forconveying away said mixture.

2."\The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus7 a washingapparatus, and means to convey nitrocellulose from said fluidez:w

from a duid-extracting u@ f Lezama f tracting apparatusito said washingappak.. se

ratus Without'jpermitting said'nitrocellulose to decompose, and toconfine the fumes from said nltrocellulose ,comprising a mechanicalfeeding. device.

3. The combination ,of a duid-extracting apparatus, a Washin apparatus,mechanical means to drown an convey material trom said fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus, and -mcans to inclose said{bt-named means* to confine andcarry away the fumes therefrom.

4,. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus,and means to drown and convey material from said fluid-extractingapparatus to said washing apparatus comprising -a clam shell adapted toform when closed a chute closed at the top. A

5. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and convey material from said fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a chute increasing incross-section from top to' bottom.

6. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and conveymaterial from s aid fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a chute and a feedingdevice at the bottom of said chute.

7. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and convey materialirom said fluid-extractingapparatus to said washing apparatus comprising a device for breaking thelumps in said material.

.8. The combination of a Huid-extracting apparatus, a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and convey material from said fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a device for mixing saidmaterial with water and forcefullyv 1mpelling said mixture, and-acondu1t tangential to said device through which said miature is forced.v

9. The combinatlon of a fluid-extracting apparatus, av Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material trom saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a,device for suspending said material in water and forcefully imbellingsaid material.

O. The combination of a fluid-extracting' apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey mater1al trom said`fluid-extracting apparatus to said washing,

apparatus comprising a device for suspending said material 1n water andforcetully impelling said mixture, and a .conduit leading from near thebottom of said device provided with a trap to maintain the desired levelin said device.

l1. 4The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatu,C washing apparatus,and means feedin said device provided with a trap to main-v tain thedesired level in saiddeviee.

12.' The combination ot a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey materialv from saidviluicl-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a clamshell adapted to form when closed. a chute closed at the top, a chutebeneath the clam shell, and a device at the' bottom of said chute. i3.he combination of a. fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and convey material from said fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus compr1s1ng a clam shell adapted toform when closed a chute closed at the` i top, chute beneath the clamshell, a feeding devicent the bottom oi said chute, and' a device forbreaking'lnmps in said lmaterial.`

i lll. The combination' of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprisin a clamshell adapted to form when closer, 'a 4chute closed at the top, a chutebeneath the clam shell, a feed. ing device at the bottom of said chute,a device for breaking lumps in said material,

' and a device for mixing said material with Water.

15. 'lfhe combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from. saidfluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus lcomprising aclamshell adapted to forni when closed a chute closed at the top, achute beneath the clam shell, a feeding device at the bottom of saidchute; a de'- vice forbreaking lumps in said material, and a device forsuspending said material in Water.

16. The combination of a fluid-extracting' apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a clamshell adapted to form when closed a chute closed at the top, a chutebeneath theclam Shell, a feed,-l

lio

its

ing device at the bottom of said chute, au

device for breaking lumps in said material,

and a device for mixinf said material with water and forcefullyimpelling said mixture.

17. The combination ol a fluid-extracting apparatus, la washinapparatus, and' meansv to drown and convey material from said"fluid-extracting apparatus to said 'Washing apparatus comprising a clamshell adapted to form when closed a chute closed at the top, a chutebeneath the clam shell, a feeding device at the bottom of said chute, adevice for breaking lumps in said materiakand a .device for suspendingsaid material in Water and forcefully impelling said mixture.

18. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a vwashingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Wash- .ing apparatus con'iprising aclam shell vadapted to forni when closed a chute closed at the top, achute beneath the 'clam shell, a feeding device at the bottom of saidchute, a device for breaking lumps in said material, a device for mixing,said material with water and forcefully impelling said mixture, and apipe tangential to said lastnamed device to convey away said mixture.19. vThe combination of a duid-extracting apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means todrown and convey material from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a clamshell adapted 'to form When closed a chute closed at the top, a chutebeneath the clam shell., a feeding device at the bottom of said chute, ade# vice for breaking lumps in said material, a device for suspendingsaid material in water and forcefully lin'ipelling said mixture, and apipe tangential to said last-named device to convey away said mixture.

20. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidHuid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising ya chute,a feeding device at the bottom of said chute, and a device for breakinglumps in said material.

21. The combination of a fiuid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from said'4Huid#extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a chute,a feeding device atthebottom of said chute, a device for breaking lumpsinsaid material, and a device for mixing said material With Water.

22. The` combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidHuid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a chute,a feeding devlce at the bottom of said chute, a device for breakinglumps in said material, and a device for mixing said material with Waterand forcefully impelling said mixture.

23. The-combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey materiall from saidduid-extracting apparatus to said washing apparatus comprising a chute,a feeding device at. the bottom of said chute, a device for breakinglumps in said material, a device for lmixing said material with Waterforcefully impelling said mixture, and a pipe tangential to saidlast-named device to apparatus, a Washing apparatus, and means to drownand convey material from said fluid-extracting apparatus tosaid Washingapparatus comprising' a feeding device, a device for breaking lumps insaid material, and a device for mixing said'materi'al with Water. 4

26. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown and convey material from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising afeeding device, a device for breaking lumps in said material, and adevice for mixing said material With Water and forcefully impelling saidmixture.

27. The combination of a Huid-extracting apparatus,`a Washing apparatus,and means to drown and conveymaterial from said fluid-extractingapparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a feeding device', adevice for breaking lumps in said .mat/arial, a device for mixing saidmaterial Witb4 Water and forcefully impelling said mixture, and

a pipe tangential to saidv last-named device to convey away saidmixture. 1 A

28. The combination of a fluid-extracting apparatus, a Washingapparatus, and means to drown.and convey-material .from saidfluid-extracting apparatus to said Washing apparatus comprising a devicefor. breaking lumps in said material, and a device. fo

to drown and convey material from saidl I fluid-extracting apparatus tosaid Washing apparatus comprising` a feeding device, a device forbreakinglumps in said material, a device formixing said material withWa,

ter and forcefully fim'pelling said mixture, i

and a pipe tangential to said last-nameddevice to convey "away-saidmixture. D

31. The @muessen @fa auid-extraaig apparatus, a Washing apparatus, andmeans to drovvn and convey "material from said Huid-extracting apparatusto said Washing apparatuscomprising a device for breaking `lumpe in saidmaterial and a device for to drown and convey material from saidiuid-extracting apparatus to said washing apparatus comprising a devicefor breaking lumps 1n said material, a deyice for mixing 'saidmaterialwith Water and forcefully impeiling said mixture, and apipetangential to said last-named device to convey away said mixture. y

34. The combination of a fluidextraeting apparatus, a washing apparatus,and-means to drown and convey material from said fluid-extractingapparatus to' said washing apparatus comprising a feedingr device and vadevice for mixing said material with Water and forcefully impelling saidmixture.

The combination of a uid-extracting apparatus, a washing apparatus, andvmeans -to drown and clmveymaterial from said Huid-extracting apparatusto said washing apparatus comprising a feeding device, a device formixing said material with water and forcefully impelling said mixture,and a pipe tangential to said last-named device to convey away saidmixture.

36. In an apparatus for mixing materials with Huid, means to drown andconvey maf terial comprising a series of .substantially trian larshapedbars and means to rotate aaidv ars.

37.' .In an apparatus for mixing materials with, fluid, means to drownand convey material comprising a feeding device and means to cxmveywater beneath said device.

v.38. In an apparatus for mixing materials with fluid, means to drownand convey ma-v terial comprising a series of loosely hung spacedfingers and meansto force material against said fingers.

39. In an apparatus for mixing materials with fiuid, means to drown andconvey maf terial comprising a mixing device, means to convey water tosaid device, means to mnvey material to said device, and a tangential.

pipe adjacent said device to convey away the resulting mixture. p

40. In an apparatus for mixing materials with fluid, means to drown andconvey material comprising an impelling device com.-

prising a device to suspend material in wa ter and to impel the mixturethrough a tangential pipe. A l 4 41. In an apparatus for mixingmaterials with fluid, means to dro'yvn andeonvey ma-` a mixing device,and a' terial. comprisin feeding device a( apted to convey predeterminedamounte of material from the bottom of a mass of material to said mixingdevice.A

42. In an apparatus for mixing materiale with liuid of the characterdescribed, means toflrown and convey material comprising an impellingdevice, and a feeding device adapted to convey predetermi'nlal amountsof material from the bottom et' a mass of material to saidimpellingdevice. i

In testimony that I clalm the lforegoing I have .hereunto eet my hand.

nvaa'rs e. Looms.

